United given Shaw pursuit boost

Luke Shaw has given Manchester United a boost by saying he does not need Champions League football to earn a place in the England team.

The 18-year-old left-back is a target for United, who are in advanced talks with Southampton. But the Old Trafford club, who have competed in the Champions League every season since 1995-96, will not be in Europe at all after only finishing seventh in the Premier League following a turbulent campaign under the now-departed David Moyes.

However, Shaw admitted Champions League football is not the be-all and end-all for him. "You can't really say that because you look at the other teams and they haven't all got Champions League players, have they?" he said.

Shaw made his World Cup debut in England's 0-0 draw against Costa Rica and was one of three Southampton players alongside Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana in Roy Hodgson's squad, while there were players from Everton and five from Liverpool who did not play European football last season either.

Shaw added: "Obviously Champions League would help, playing against world-class players but you can't just say that because you look at other teams that have gone through the groups and they haven't got all Champions League players.

"We'll have a look at it and just to try and move on in the coming few months."